If you're considering moving to Taiwan, the first question is always: "Can I afford it?"
When you move abroad for work or being an international student studying abroad you always have to think about cost of living and whether you can afford it since it will affect your life there.Many foreigners would ask is Taiwan affordable or especially Taipei , seeing as it is the major international city. In big cities across the world like Tokyo, Bangkok, New York, London, Paris etc cost of living there might be so expensive especially for younger people so how does Taipei city compare.
The short answer is yes. I would say “Taiwan is a world class country for cheap “or not as much as the others above. Even if salaries are not as high as those cities . Taiwan offers an incredibly high quality of life—safety, world-class transit, and convenience—at an affordable price compared to Seoul, Tokyo, or Singapore. The key is understanding where your money goes.
We’re breaking down the budget based on the reality of Taipei living, using our own expat experience to show exactly how much you need to thrive (excluding tuition fees).
This is related to if you are working here ,Forget complicated finance spreadsheets. The reality is simple:
Average Foreigner Salary: Many foreigners with specialized skills or teaching contracts earn well above the minimum wage, generally starting around NT$40,000 – NT$60,000+ per month. If you are not in teaching and just staring out it in a local Taiwanese company it will be depend on your field and position or if you have a international salary it will be higher.
The Comfort Line: If your net salary is around NT$30,000 (plus), you will absolutely survive. If your salary is above NT$40,000, you will live comfortably, enjoy socializing, and save.
The Daily Spending Rule: The best way to budget in Taiwan is to set a daily food budget (e.g., NT$300 – NT$400 for all daily meals) and one for daily travel expenses (e,g, NT70-200NT) and stick to it. This helps you track spending better than a monthly lump sum.
Housing is your largest expense and the one area where location and social choice make the biggest difference.
Item | Your Expat Budget (NTD/Month) | Insight & Context |
Shared Housing (student housing) | NT$12,000 – NT$25,000 | The essential choice for students and new arrivals. This range covers a private or shared room in a modern shared house (which we highly recommend!) in a convenient district near Taipei mrt stations. |
Basic Studio Apartment | NT$15,000 – NT$30,000 | The price of privacy. Expect smaller space, and you'll often sacrifice a great location for this price point. |
student/dormitory housing | NT$5,000 – NT$12,000 | This depends on what school you go to and the area. Many schools offer multiple tier of students accommodation but they are generally cheaper than outside and for that you suffer in quality lack of equipment and living space. |
Utilities (Water, Gas, Internet) | NT$1,500 – NT$3,000 | CRUCIAL TIP: Electricity is more expensive in the summer due to heavy A/C use. Many landlords charge a flat rate that is higher than utility rates to cover the cost. |
⚠️ The "Day 1" Reality Check:
Deposit (押金): Private rentals and some share houses require 2 months' rent as a deposit. If your rent is NT$15,000 per month , you need **NT$45,000** ready on Day 1 (Deposit + 1st month).
Furniture: Dorms and budget friendly studios are often "bare bones." Budget an extra NT$3,000 for basics (bedding, hangers desk lamp, etc.) at IKEA or Carrefour.
Average University dorm setup.
Need to prepare at 2 month deposit
Work Permit: As a full time student, you can apply for a work permit to take on part-time jobs (cafes, teaching, etc.). You are limited to 20 hours per week during the semester but it is only possible to apply after you live here for more than 6 months period .
NHI Waiting Period: You cannot join Taiwan’s cheap National Health Insurance (NHI) until you have lived in Taiwan for 6 continuous months. Budget around NT$3,000 – NT$5,000 for private insurance or emergency medical funds for your first semester.
As you noted, in Taiwan, people eat out constantly due to the sheer convenience and low cost of street food. Your budget reflects a realistic, non-cooking lifestyle.
Item | Budget (NTD/Month) | SEO Insight & Context |
School Cafeterias | NT$4,500 – NT$7,500 | The most affordable option for university students! A balanced meal at an NTU or NTNU cafeteria costs only NT$70–NT$100. |
Eating Out (Daily Budget) | NT$9,000 – NT$15,000 | Based on NT$300-NT$500 per day. Covers night markets, local stalls, 7-11 , family mart convenience stores and bian dang (lunchboxes). |
Cooking at Home (if kitchen is available) | NT$5,000 – NT$8,000 | Buying fresh ingredients from traditional "Wet Markets" or PX Mart (Quán聯) is cheaper than eating out if you have a kitchen and can cook. The trade off is time spent meal prepping. |
Fine Dining / Western | Varies | A nice Western-style brunch or dinner usually starts at NT$500+ per person. |
💡 Budget Tip: Night market snacks cost NT$60–NT$120. If you live in a Share House with a kitchen or any dormitory house with kitchen appliances, you can save roughly NT$4,000 per month just by preparing breakfast and dinner at home and it is even more better in a share house since you have multiple hands to help make various foods!
Taipei's world-class transportation network is your biggest financial win. The investment in a monthly pass drastically reduces your daily cost. Even if you don’t use a monthly pass your transportation budget could be around 2000 nt a month more of less depending on the frequency of long trips . *Note if you are traveling a lot outside Taipei region the cost will be a lot more.
if you are a student your accomodation would be close to areas of the school like NTU ,NTNU shida are , Gonguan or Dongmen area and getting to school on foot of by share public bike , You-bike (U-bike) would not be a issue which saves you money for longer trips. Taipei trains chard average 25nt-50nt per trip depening on distance so 100nt per day is alright. try to make use of Taipei walk able city center to go between places nearby.
Item | Your Expat Budget (NTD/Month) | Insight & Context |
Taipei Unlimited Monthly Pass | NT$1,280 – NT$2000 | The ultimate budget hack! if you have taipei t-pass , Provides unlimited use of the MRT, City Buses, and YouBike. It’s an unbeatable value compared to any major global city. |
Walkability Bonus: Taipei is extremely walkable, especially in central districts. YouBike is also integrated into the monthly pass for short trips.
These items are essential for your well-being and social life.
Item | Your Expat Budget (NTD/Month) | SEO Insight & Context |
National Health Insurance (NHI) | <NT$1,000 | Mandatory and affordable. Taiwan's NHI is praised worldwide for providing high-quality, cheap healthcare. A doctor visit is often less than NT$500. |
ARC | NT$1,000 | This is your Taiwan alien residence ,once a year payment, if you plan to be in taiwan for more than 6 months you will need to get this . * different rules for different purposes |
Phone/Internet Bill | NT$300 – NT$1,000+ | You can get very affordable, unlimited data plans here. The lower end covers a basic plan; the higher end is for high-speed home fiber internet. |
Exercise/Gym Fees | NT$1,000+ | Many gyms (like World Gym,) offer higher prices, but many public parks and sports centers offer free outdoor equipment and clubs. This expense is totally dependent on your lifestyle. there are |
Socializing/Going Out | NT$1,000 < | Includes parties, pub quizzes, Language Exchange meetups, board games ,exercise clubs and drinks. This is entirely flexible and depends on how much you enjoy Taipei's nightlife and the kind of activities. |
This table reflects a comfortable lifestyle for a single working expat or student in Taipei, excluding tuition fees and major travel and different 1 off purchases(ie phone , clothes apparel, and ARC ).
Category | Minimum Comfort (NTD) | Minimum Comfort (USD) | Your Target Budget (NTD) | Your Target Budget (USD) |
Rent | 12,000 | $383 | 15,000 | $479 |
Food (Eating Out) | 9,000 | $287 | 12,000 | $383 |
Transportation (Monthly Pass) | 1,280 | $41 | 1,280 | $41 |
Utilities/Phone | 1,800 | $57 | 2,500 | $80 |
NHI | 826 | $26 | 826 | $26 |
Social/Exercise/Miscellaneous | 2,000 | $64 | 4,000 | $128 |
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSE | NT$26,906 | ~$858 | NT$35,606 | ~$1,137 |
Note: USD values are approximate and based on the current exchange rate (NT$1 ≈ $0.0319 USD). Exchange rates fluctuate daily.
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSE NT$26,906 ~ $35,606 ~ $858 USD - $1,137 USD
If you are earning the average foreigner salary (NT$40,000 – NT$60,000), you can comfortably live on the NT$35,000 budget and still have a significant amount left over for savings or travel.
Taipei offers a phenomenal quality of life. The challenge isn't surviving; it's learning to harness the power of local affordability (like night market meals and the MRT pass) so you can enjoy the rest of what Taiwan has to offer!
If you are moving to Taipei for school, the smartest financial move isn't just finding low rent—it’s avoiding "hidden startup costs." While dorms are cramped and really cheap studio apartments often lack other rooms especially if you are a university student, a Taipei Share House offers a massive budget advantage:
Zero Initial Investment: Our rooms are fully furnished. You don’t need to spend thousands at IKEA on a bed, desk, or wardrobe.
No "Kitchen Tax": Most budget freindly Taipei studios don't have kitchens especially if you are a student, forcing you to eat out for every meal. Our share houses feature fully equipped modern kitchens (fridge, oven, microwave, stovetop), allowing you to save thousands of NTD by meal-prepping or cooking with housemates.
Household Essentials Included: Forget buying a washing machine, water dispenser, or vacuum cleaner. Everything is provided and shared, meaning your first-month budget goes toward exploring Taiwan, not buying a toaster.
Stay with Taiwan share house and learn about living and thriving in Taiwan as a international student and expat from people who have been there before. We provide more than just a comfortable bed but a great community of foreign friends and locals.
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